INTERREG V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme 1

Total budget: 258,5 mil. euro  total budget, out of which European Fund for Regional Development  85% ERDF, 13% national co-financing, 2% own contribution Eligible area  7 counties in Romania (Constana, Mehedini, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Călărai)  8 districts in Bulgaria (Vidin, Vratsa, Montana, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra, Dobrich)  2

Programme structures  Managing Authority – Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration  Certifying Authority – function also ensured by the Managing Authority  National Authority – Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works  Joint Secretariat and Ruse Antenna – Regional Office for Cross Border Cooperation Calarasi  First level controllers (Regional Office for Cross Border Cooperation Calarasi for Romanians, contracted staff/service by Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for Bulgaria)  Audit Authority (Romanian Audit Authority affiliated to the Court of Accounts) supported by the group of auditors  3

Priority Axis  Priority Axis 1: A well connected region Total Budget: 96,450,936  Priority Axis 2: A green region Total Budget: 63,454,564  Priority Axis 3: A safe region Total Budget: 48,225,468  Priority Axis 4: A skilled and inclusive region Total Budget: 17,767,279  Priority Axis 5: An efficient region Total Budget: 12,690,913  Priority Axis 6: Technical Assistance Total Budget: 19,914,966  4 85% ERDF 13% National Cofinancing 2% Own contribution 65% ERDF 35% Member states contribution

Priority Axis 1: A well connected region (96,450,936 euro) Specific Objective 1.1 Improve the planning, development and coordination of cross-border transport systems for better connections to TEN-T transport network Expected Results: people served by modernized infrastructure leading to TEN-T (from in 2014) Expected Outputs:  120 km of (re)constructed or upgraded roads  30 mechanisms facilitating the connection of secondary/tertiary nodes to TEN-T infrastructure Specific Objective 1.2 Increase transport safety on waterways and maritime transport routes Expected Results: 25% of the RO-BG CBC Danube length and Black Sea where safety of the navigation has been improved by joint actions (from 1.29% in 2014) Expected Outputs:  5 studies/strategies/ action plans to improve safety of the navigation on the Danube and the Black Sea supported  20 km of new or improved inland waterway 5

Priority Axis 1: A well connected region (96,450,936 euro) List of indicative actions: Improving the cross-border secondary and tertiary nodes connections to TEN-T infrastructure (e.g., improve/build bicycle routes, bicycle-sheds, construction and modernization of road infrastructure); Investing (infrastructure and equipment) in improved freight and passenger on river and sea transport on cross-border level; Developing cross-border/joint action-based solutions, management plans, strategies, feasibility studies, environment impact assessments etc., related to works projects for public infrastructure (waterways, roads etc.); Facilitating active cooperation among the providers of traffic and travel information and value added services in order to improve the local public transport in the cross- border area and the connection between twin cities; Raising awareness regarding the importance of developing and improving environment-friendly transport systems in the cross-border area; Developing integrated plans and measures in order to improve the navigation conditions for the common sector of the Danube and the Black Sea in the cross- border area Developing and implementing joint co-ordinated strategies, tools and pilot applications to improve the development of multimodal nodes and port services 6

Priority Axis 2: A green region (63,454,564 euro) Specific Objective 2.1 Improve the sustainable use of natural heritage and resources and cultural heritage Expected Results: tourist overnights in the CBC region (from in 2014) Expected Outputs:  visits to the supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attractions  100 integrated tourism products/services created  50 common strategies, policies or management plans for valorizing the cultural and natural heritage Specific Objective 2.2 Enhance the sustainable management of the ecosystems from the cross-border area Expected Results: 10 Natura 2000 sites from the cross border area with coordinated management tools(from 2 in 2014) Expected Outputs:  hectares of habitats supported to attain a better conservation status 7

Priority Axis 2: A green region (63,454,564 euro) List of indicative actions: Supporting the promotion and utilization of cultural/natural heritage potential by investments in joint and sustainable touristic infrastructure Modernizing/constructing roads to natural and cultural heritage interest points that will be part of a cross-border tourism product Reconstructing cultural infrastructure, recovery and promotion of cultural monuments based on relevant cross-border strategies/concepts Preserving, promoting and developing the intangible cultural heritage, mainly through cultural events with a cross-border dimension Developing common tourism products and services based on the natural and cultural heritage and joint promotion Supporting and promoting cross-border investments regarding the green infrastructure (e.g. urban tree canopy, corridors connecting habitats) Protecting/preserving/monitoring the ecosystems, especially in NATURA 2000 sites by purchasing the necessary equipment Preparing and implementing joint researches, studies, strategies, plans related to NATURA 2000 sites Joint designation and management of protected sites and species of the NATURA 2000 network 8

Priority Axis 3: A safe region (48,225,468 euro) Specific Objective 3.1 Improve joint risk management in the cross- border area Expected Results: 3 (satisfactory) - satisfaction degree of the stakeholders in the area regarding the quality of the joint risk management in the CBC area (from 2 – somewhat inappropriate in 2014) Expected Outputs:  persons benefiting from flood protection measures  persons benefiting from forest fire protection measures  persons benefiting from actions of risk management  50 joint partnerships in the field of joint early warning and emergency response 9

Priority Axis 3: A safe region (48,225,468 euro) List of indicative actions: Land improving for regions with high and medium hazard risk level, preferably by nature-based ecosystem solutions (including: sanitation and reforestation of river banks, building green infrastructure flood and coastal defenses, building flood and coastal defence (dikes, reservoirs), forestation/reforestation of non-permanent vulnerable land to torrential formations, reducing desertification tendencies and high drought risks, replanting floodplain forests) Supporting and promoting cross-border investments into the green infrastructure that helps reduce the risk and mitigate disasters Measuring/monitoring environmental parameters that are important for early warning and effective mitigation measures (e.g. emission levels, water purity, analysis of soil and water samples etc.), through the purchasing of common equipment and joint assessment of results; Increasing co-ordination and efficient reactions of the authorities in the emergency situations caused by natural disasters (flood, fire, heat waves, earthquakes, storms), as well as setting up common rules/legislation on deforesting and construction in the areas affected by natural and anthropic hazards Elaborating of joint detailed maps and data bases indicating natural and technological risks, and land use for regional planning authorities, environmental agencies and emergency services; 10

Priority Axis 4: A skilled and inclusive region (17,767,279 euro) Specific Objective 4.1 Encourage the integration of the cross-border area in terms of employment and labour mobility Expected Results: people that have access to joint employment initiatives (from in 2014) Expected Outputs:  participants in joint local employment initiatives and joint training  participants in joint education and training schemes to support youth employment, educational opportunities and higher and vocational education across border  50 initiatives (trainings, education schemes, websites, agreements, networks, job-fairs etc.) that activate workforce mobility in the cross border area 11

Priority Axis 4: A skilled and inclusive region (17,767,279 euro) List of indicative actions: creating/developing infrastructure directly linked to increase labour mobility developing joint strategies and measures for a better inclusion in the labour market of the disadvantaged categories of population developing information and advice for cross-border commuters and potential employers by creating and developing joint databases in service of labour mobility creating and developing cross border business incubators and virtual incubators for promoting employment of staff from both side of the border developing joint strategies, plans, and studies related to the cross-border mobility and to identify the key branches that can activate workforce mobility developing and providing joint special programs in vocational training in sectors which lack specific skills or on transversal issues as sustainable development joint training and support, exchanges of good practices for a better integration in the labour market raising awareness on employment opportunities throughout the CBC area 12

Priority Axis 5: An efficient region (12,690,913 euro) Specific Objective 5.1 Increase cooperation capacity and the efficiency of public institutions in a CBC context Expected Results: 4 (appropriate) intensity of cooperation between cross-border stakeholders (from 3 - satisfactory in 2014) Expected Outputs:  100 supported cross border mechanisms (agreements, networks, regulations, studies, policies, strategies, information exchange tools) to enhance cooperation capacity 13

Priority Axis 5: An efficient region (12,690,913 euro) List of indicative actions: Supporting the modernisation of public services in areas such as customs, social policies, education, health and employment (including purchase of equipment and infrastructure development) Developing of common structures, systems and tools that ensure continuity and allow to gradually step up the maturity of cross-border cooperation in the programme area Training for public authorities’ staff to increase capacity (eg. in view of access in implementing EU projects, legislation and managing public investments in a CBC context, in energy efficiency, sustainable transport and improved cross-border traffic management, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change) Designing implementation strategies, developing and transfering of best-practice models and solutions (including best-practices for the provision of public services through e-government tools and methods or for the management of climate change related risks), organisational models, decision-making tools and promotion of pilot actions for a better participation of all groups of civil society in the cross-border and local decision and policy making process 14

Schedule Today - launch of the first call for proposals for PAs 1, 2 and 3 First half of June: future Monitoring Committee (approval of Description of the Management and Control System) 30 th of June, 2015 deadline for submission of soft projects 30 th of September, 2015 deadline for submission of hard projects October, 2015 contracting of soft projects February, 2015 contracting of hard projects Second half of the year-launching PAs 4 and 5 15